Propelled ball game



Oct. 23, 1962 Filed Sept. 13, 1961 2 Sheets-Shea l Roberto f? Gare/aINVENT OR ATTORNEY Oct. 23, 1962 Filed Sept. 13, 1961 R. GARCIA3,059,931

PROPELLED BALL GAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 8

l l v I /0 v0 /4 PLAYER CLUB Robe/f0 R. Gare/'0 BMW ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent Otilice 3,959,931 Patented Oct. 23, 1962 3,959,931PROPELLED BALL GAME Roberto R. Garcia, 1255 th St., San Bernardino,Calif. Filed Sept. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 137,793 3 Claims. (Cl. 273--127)This invention relates to a propelled ball game and has for an object toprovide a game or game apparatus wherein a ball is propelled asubstantial distance to a target station, and wherein the score achievedby the player depends on his skill in successfully propelling the ballthrough the target in the minimum number of strokes.

A further object of this invention is to provide a game apparatuswherein a plurality of target stations are provided and arranged to beplaced at predetermined distances from each other, together with a balland a mallet for each player so that each player may propel his ballthrough the target in accordance with the rules, and be credited withappropriate score.

A further object of this invention is to provide a propelled ball gamewhich may be played on any appropriate surface such as a lawn or othergrassy area, or even on a paved surface of any nature or playgroundsurface which is of suitable size to enable the target stations to beplaced at predetermined distances, whereby the player may exercisemental and physical ability in propelling the ball through the target inacocrdance with the rules, yet the entire equipment is comparativelyinexpensive, thus making the game available to people of low income.

A further object of this invention is to provide a propelled ball gameutilizing targets having sufficient difficulty to necessitate skill andability in playing the game, thus providing a challenge to the players,whereby the players may increase their skill by practicing the game.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a propelled ballgame utilizing a plurality of substantially identical targets placed atpredetermined positions relative to each other so that a player maypropel a ball to each target in its turn, and be credited with a scoreappropriate to his skill in properly propelling the ball onto thetarget. In brief, the game apparatus of this invention includes aplurality of comparatively inexpensive targets, a ball and a mallet foreach player, with the size of the ball in such relation to the size of atarget hole in the target as to provide a challenge to the player of thegame.

With the above and related objects in view, the present inventionconsists in the details of construction and combination of parts, aswill be more fully understood from the following description, when readin conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one of the sections of this game.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1.

:FIG. 3 is a front edge view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a side view, partly broken away, of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a mallet used in this game.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary View of the mallet, at a right angle to FIG. 6,showing the mallet head.

FIG. 8 is a plan view, showing a layout of the game using at least threestations.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a score card for this game.

There is shown at 10 a target station for the propelled ball game ofthis invention. The target station 10 will be formed substantially asshown, of any suitable material such as wood, Fiberglas, high impactplastic, metal, hard rubber, or other suitable material.

The target station 10 is provided with a target fiat 12 at its highestelevation, and approaching this target flat 12 is a front incline 14formed into a tapered channel by fences 16 and 18 at each side thereof,the inclined channel 14 tapering from its bottom end 20 to its uppertarget flat end 22.

Two side approach inclines 24 and 26 extend from opposite side edges ofthe target station 10 to the same target flat 12, and each of these sideapproach inclines 24 and 26 are similarly formed into tapered channelsby means of channel bars or fences 2S and 36* on the incline 24, and 32and 34 on the incline 26, these channels similarly being tapered fromtheir bottom entrance ends to their target flat upper ends.

In the target flat 12 there is provided a hole 36 of a size that is butslightly larger than the size of a ball 38, preferably of hard rubber orother suitable material, which is being propelled up one of the inclines14, 24 or 26 into the target hole 31: on the target flat 12, by means ofa suitable mallet 49. The mallet 46 consists of a shaft 42 having ahandle 44 at one end and a mallet head 46 at the other end.

The target hole 36 leads to a discharge tunnel 48 and the dischargetunnel 48 leads to the meeting line 50 at the top of two dischargeinclines 52 and 54, leading to the same two opposite sides from whichthe tapered approach channels 24 and 26 extend. To insure that the ballcoming out of the tunnel 48 goes down one or the other of the dischargeinclines 52 or 54, there is provided a bar or fence 56 and 58 on theopposite side of each incline, the meeting line 51 of course, beingsubstantially below the target fiat 12.

it will be noted that each of the approach channels may have an approacharrow 61, indicated thereon, indicating them as target approachchannels, while the discharge channels 52 and 54 are similarly providedwith arrows pointing downwardly in the discharge direction at 62. Inaddition, discharge channel 52 is provided with the numeral l at 64, andthe discharge channel 54 is provided with the numeral 2 at 66, thedischarge channel 52 being on the right hand side of the target stationas viewed from the front approach channel 14, while the dischargechannel 54 is on the left side.

Between the channel or fence bars 16 and 28 of the front approachchannel 14 and left approach channel 24, there is provided a dead endincline 6t; and similarly, on the opposite side between the channel bars13 and 32 there is another dead end incline 70. Obviously, if the ballenters either of these dead end inclines, it would be deflected orprevented from reaching the target fiat 12 and target hole 36 by thefact that these fence bars meet in an acute angle at the target fiat 12and prevent the entrance of the ball thereto.

At 72 in'FlG. 9, there is shown a score card for the game, marked up toshow the score achieved by a player when playing the game in compliancewith the rules. First, however, it may be pointed out that while thetarget stations and balls and mallets may be made of any suitable size,the preferred dimensions are approximately as follows, which dimensionsare given merely as illustrative and not as restrictive, in connectionwith the apparatus.

The width of the target station across its back is approximatelytwenty-two inches. From front to back, it is approximately sixteeninches. The target flat 12 is approximately four inches, and the targethole 36 is ap proximately one and seven eighths inches in diameter,while the hard rubber ball 38 is approximately one and three quartersinches in diameter, thus being slightly smaller than the target hole 36.

At the entrance end, the front approach channel 14 is approximatelyeight inches, including the fence members 16 and 18, while the sideapproach channels 24 and 26 are approximately six inches at theirentrance ends and, of course, all three approach channels taper fromtheir entrance ends to their target flat ends.

The discharge channels 52 and 54 are approximately three inches inwidths. In one size, the mallet 413 is thirty six inches in overalllength including the eight inch handle at 44, the mallet head 46 beinglikewise four inches from end to end.

Obviously, the size, width and length of the mallet, may be varied,particularly for different sized players, and mallets may be provided inseveral suitable sizes both as to length of shaft and also as to lengthand thickness of the mallet head and mallet face. Some widths may belarger, and others may be smaller.

To play the game, three target stations 10 will be arranged in anisoceles triangle formation as illustrated in FIG. 8, with the targetstations 14 approximately one hundred feet apart. A starting point onthe playing ground to the first target station i similarly one hundredfeet away. The target stations should be arranged as illustrated, sothat the front approach channel or incline 14 faces the direction fromwhich the player approaches. The starting point is shown at 74, thefirst target station is lo cated at 76, one hundred feet away fromthere, the second target station is located at 78, one hundred feet fromthe target station at 76, and the third target station is shown at 30,again one hundred feet from the second target station 78. The rules areas follows:

This propelled ball game can be played between three playersindividually or in groups of three.

Each player has the right to three rounds alternating at three shots ateach station 10. One round consists of hitting or propelling the hardrubber ball 38 from the starting point 74 (which measures a distance ofone hundred feet) to the first station 76, with a mallet 46 three feetlong.

If the ball 38 enters the hole 36, the player is credited with fifteenpoints and may proceed to the next station 78 from where the ballstopped. If he fails, he can propel the ball 38 the second time fromwhere the ball stopped, if successful, he is credited ten points. If heshould fail again he is entitled to a third and final shot at thatstation 78. If the ball 33 should enter the hole 36, the player creditsfive points. If he fails, he will take the ball and place it a distanceof twelve inches on the left side of the first station 76 and from therehe should proceed to the second station 78.

The three stations have an exit hole on the rear part. If the ball goesout on channel 52 with the number 1, the player is credit one extrapoint. If the ball goes out on channel 54 with the number 2, the playercredits two extra points.

Upon making a hole in any of the stations with the first shot or secondshot, the player may proceed immediately to the next station from wherethe ball stands, or may wait until each of the other players havecompleted the same target station.

The ball is placed a distance of twelve inches on the left side of thestation only when the player fails to make a hole within the threeentitled shots at each target station.

All three target stations consist of three inclined entrance channelsleading to the hole, and may be shot from any of them without alteringthe score. The three stations have an exit hole on thefront with twochannels, one marked number 1 and the other number 2 which lead to thesides of the stations.

Channel 52, with the number 1 may produce an extra point and leads tothe right. Channel 54, with the num her "2 produces two extra points andleads to the left.

This may be played in any area, but the distance be- 4 tween stationsmust be the same as the distance measuring from the starting point andthe first station.

Of course, the rules can be varied as desired. As an alternative, forinstance, all the players may be required to finish the first stationbefore any one of them proceeds to the second station, etc., or eachplayer may have one play in turn. Obviously, other rules may be devisedfor this game, and the target stations may be increased in number andplaced at varying distances to provide a greater challenge to the skillof the more experienced player.

Each player will keep his score on a score card such as shown at '72 inFIG. 9, which has been marked up to show a typical score. Thus, in thefirst round, the player entered the target hole on his first shot andWent out the channel bearing the number 1 for a score of sixteen. On thesecond round, he failed to enter the target at all in his three strokes,as indicated by the three lines drawn to the outside of the circle, butnot entering the circle, a score of zero for the second station. On thethird station, as indicated, he missed his first two shots as shown 'bythe lines drawn to the outside of the circle, and then got his ball intothe target hole on the third shot and it Went out by the channel withthe numeral 2 for a score of seven points, five for getting in on thethird stroke, two for going out in the channel with the numeral 2,making a total score on his first round of twenty-three points.

On his second round, he achieved a credit of thirty-four points, on thethird round, a credit of forty-four points, for a total of one hundredand one points, the game, in this case, being considered as consistingof three rounds of all the target stations.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, suchdescription is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting,since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of theinvention is to be determined as claimed.

Having thus set forth and described the nature of this invention, whatis claimed is:

1. In a game apparatus, a target station for a propelled ball, aplurality of approach inclines on said station leading upwardly from anedge thereof, each of said inclines having an edge over which apropelled ball may enter to travel up said incline, an elevated targetflat in said station having a target hole for the ball therein, a fencemember dividing each incline from its adjacent incline, a plurality ofalternate inclines of said inclines being triangular in outline wherebysaid fence members at the inclined sides of said triangular inclinesprovide dead ends causing a propelled ball entering thereon to bereturned from said target station, others of said inclines beingquadrangular in outline, said quadrangular inclines leading to saidtarget flat permitting the propelled ball traveling thereup to approachand enter said target hole.

2. The target station of claim 1, and a further pair of quadrangularinclines leading from opposite edges of said station to a meeting lineat their upper ends at an elevation below said target flat, and adischarge tunnel lead ing downwardly from said target hole to saidmeeting line of said oppositely extending inclines, thereby providingtarget station discharge inclines.

3. The target station of claim 2, the diameter of said target hole beingsubstantially less than the dimension of the smallest side of saidtarget fiat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

